Illustrations for Michaela Gleave’s Project Messages of Hope, Messages of Love, 2020

Messages of hope, messages of love was a major new public artwork by Michaela Gleave, projected from the roof of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. For three consecutive evenings in October 2020, a ring of search lights brightened the night skies of Sydney with Morse code messages to connect us in these socially distanced times.

Taking the form of a collaborative poem, the work was composed of messages that were submitted by the public via the Gallery’s Together In Art website during an open call in September. From these submissions, selected messages were arranged to form an intuitive and heartfelt collective tribute to the people of Sydney that beamed across physical and digital space. These illuminated messages were be viewable in the sky and via a live stream accompanied by text translations on the Together In Art website.

Created in collaboration with lighting designer Fausto Brusamolino Messages of hope, messages of love was a love letter to Sydney, and the world beyond. It was conceived as a timely and poetic response to the strange reality of the present moment and encourages messages of love, hope, resilience, strength and compassion. '

Messages of hope, messages of love operated between 8pm and midnight on 16, 17 and 18 October. Messages were submitted during the public during the call-out period, 14–27 September 2020. A total of 360 messages were be chosen with each converted into a 2 min Morse code display. The beams of light were be visible from a radius of 2-5 km and to a height of 40–80m, weather dependent.

Lead artist: Michaela Gleave

Lighting design and creative coding: Fausto Brusamolino

Live stream videographer: Martin Fox

Web coding: Warren Armstrong

Watercolour image: Camille Serisier

Produced in partnership with the Art Gallery of NSW, 2020

This project has been supported by the City of Sydney and the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Thanks to Isobel Parker Philip, Justin Paton, Amelia Lindsay, Hannah McKissock-Davis, Elliot Foulkes, Elle Williams, Kane Hancock, Nik Rieth and the team at the Art Gallery of NSW. Special thanks to Elizabeth Reidy.